Talks with AP govt fail, power employees' strike to continue

Employees of the power sector in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh will continue with their indefinite strike as talks with the government to end the stalemate failed late tonight.
The Electricity Employees Joint Action Committee, that held second round of talks with Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy for over two hours in the night, refused to heed his advice and decided to continue the strike, which is part of the agitation against proposed division of the state.
Highly-placed sources in the State Energy Department, however, said they were "managing" things with the available power and ensuring that the southern power grid was not affected because of the strike.

"There is no problem to the grid as of now. We will see it doesn't collapse," a top department official said.
"The Chief Minister requested us to call off the indefinite strike but we refused. We will not exempt even emergency services from the strike," JAC leader Saibabu told reporters outside the CM's camp office here.
More than 30,000 employees of AP Power Generation Corporation, AP Power Transmission Corporation, AP Southern Power Distribution Company and AP Eastern Power Distribution Company have launched an indefinite strike demanding the Centre immediately withdraw the move to bifurcate the state.

Another 20,000 contract workers also joined the strike, throwing the entire power generation and distribution system in 13 Seemaandhra districts out of gear for the past two days. Emergency services like hospitals and Railways, too, were hit.

The CM reportedly told the JAC leaders that putting people to hardship was not right and wanted them to withdraw the stir. "As politicians, we will continue to fight for a united state. You please resume duties in the interest of people," Kiran told them.
The JAC leaders, however, rejected his plea, saying they would not withdraw till the Centre came out with a clear statement on stalling the bifurcation process.
Prior to the strike, AP was getting 11,000 MW, both from the generating stations in he State and outside sources.
Now, the available power has dropped to 8,500 MW, resulting in power blackout in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema besides disruption in supply to Hyderabad city.